Health and Safety A-Z
Topic: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Summary:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is protective equipment that is worn. A few examples include hard hats worn where there is a risk of head injury, safety glasses worn for eye protection, and respirators used to reduce or prevent the inhalation of airborne hazardous materials.
In general terms, users often find their PPE to be hot, uncomfortable and a nuisance, especially when required for long periods of time. As a result, getting people to use their PPE properly and consistently can be a challenge. This, clearly, can significantly reduce the protection offered by the PPE.
So, while PPE protection is important, PPE is generally understood to be a last line of defence. In most cases PPE is only one element of a broader hazard control strategy.
Care must be taken when selecting PPE to ensure the protection it provides is appropriate to the hazard. Consider the following examples:
Disposable laboratory gloves offer no protection if the material they are made from dissolves on contact with the chemical you are working with.
Dust masks are ideal for nuisance dusts, provide little protection to smaller particles and no protection at all from hazardous fumes and gases
Where PPE is required there should also be a PPE program. The program should address training in the proper fitting, use and maintenance, resources required for storage and maintenance
(e.g. a suitable place to clean and store a respirator and respirator cartridges), and follow up checks to ensure the equipment is being used and stored properly.
For Information See:
Ontario Ministry of Labour: Legal requirements for PPE
O. Reg. 851, Industrial Establishments, especially s.79 - 86
Additional Resources:
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
Last Revised: November 3, 2015